The Christianville Spirit: Christian's Year In Review 2008

The Christianville Spirit
The Spirit that touches lives
December 30, 2008- TCS # 129

OK, Everyone, You know what time it is. It’s getting close to New Year’s Eve, Watching the ball drop, and the New Year of 2009 to come. But, WAIT. What about 2008? Well, I have to admit that 2008 wasn’t the best of years for everyone but, I feel like I need to review it and not because I want to talk about the hardships of it but, more for the fun for remembering the past year. So, without further a due here is Christian’s Year-In-Review 2008. As with any year-in-review we have to start in January. My year 2008 kicked off great until My Brother Michael decided to move out of the house in January. My Mom and I weren’t too happy about it and we were sad for while. But, it turned out to be fine. On January 23rd I was looking at You tube videos and I ran into one from a guy named Steve Williams who calls himself “The Georgia Road geek” because he makes videos of him driving down roads in the State of Georgia and around it, showing the road signs and other things. I thought it was really cool. On February 1, 2008 was the first “State of The Metro Area Address” in the Christianville Metro Area. The changes effected by the address were Christianville’s Beltway named Geography Loop was renamed to Geography Beltway. Also, Geography Pkwy.(the road that goes to GCI Airport was extended to G-Honey Frwy. 3 miles East of Downtown Christianville. In March, was Grandma Honey’s famous Surprise party which was really awesome because My Uncle Bruce setup a video of people telling her Happy Birthday in a “This is Your Life” style and she had to guess who said it to her. April 2008 was a sad and scary month because on April 10 there was squall line of storms which brought an F-1 Skipping Tornado to rip through Plano and the sirens of The City of Plano did not go off which was very scary. And, now for the sad part; on April 17, My Grandpa Popi (or Budsy) passed away which was really sad for The Smith Family. May of 2008 was a quiet month. In June, was our annual trip to the beach in Gulf Shores, AL. on July 5, I stopped talking to my now former friend, Madison Shields because she was not being very nice to me. On August 11th, 2008 at 1:12 PM I turned 21 Years Old, that is an awesome time ones life and My Mom was happy because she didn’t have to worry about me going out and getting drunk which 21 year olds do but, I don’t. On September 1, I had to quit my First Job because Madison was bullying me and I didn’t want to deal with it anymore. September 24, was a very sad day because my dig Sophie was getting old and sick so, we had to put her to sleep and she passed away. On October 8, I wrote the 120th Christianville Spirit which was very exciting for me because I was amazed that I’ve written that many newsletters. On October 22, My Mom and I went on to the M-Line Trolley which runs along a historic street called McKinney Ave. near Downtown Dallas. On November 16-20, was The 4th Christian’s Best Friends’ Festival in Downtown Christianville which was very exciting. On December 21, we decided to adopt a German Sheppard mix and we decided to name her Zoe. And, she is cute as ever. And, Finally, I wrap up my 2008 Year-In-Review by telling you that December 29th I had all 4 of my Wisdom Teeth removed and it quite a thrilling surgery. All in all, 2008 has been a good year but, it wasn’t the greatest. But, I believe that 2009 will an awesome year.

(For the last time in 2008)
Thanks for reading The Christianville Spirit. I hope you had at least a good year of 2008 and I’ll see you back here for another year of exciting and touching newsletters in 2009!

The Christianville Spirit: How Early is too Early for Christmas

The Christianville Spirit
The Spirit that touches lives
December 23, 2008- TCS # 128

Well everyone it’s that time of year again, The Most Wonderful Time of The Year as Burl Ives says it. Man, I love Christmas time. I mean The Lights, The Music, The Fun, The Smiles, and of course Jesus’ Birth; not to mention all the presents and Santa Claus. But, there is part of Christmas that I haven’t touched on yet besides The Awful Dread that really shouldn’t be happening to you of Christmas. This one is multi-opinionated and that is Just exactly how EARLY to start Christmas stuff? Now, let me give you an idea of how opinionated this is. Some believe that Christmas should put up in September after Labor Day. Some believe should be anywhere between the Beginning of October and Thanksgiving. And, finally there are people who believe in putting stuff up in a rush within 2 weeks of Christmas. You see, Christmas sadly isn’t what it used to be. I mean don’t get me wrong I Love Christmas like Crazy but, sometimes, people’s definition of early is just too early. These days you walk around in October (Weeks before Halloween) and there are already Christmas decorations in the shopping areas and already Pre-Christmas Sales going on. But, that’s the thing that is changing Christmas and that is that Christmas is becoming more of a sales holiday more than a holiday to enjoy your family’s company or a religious holiday. But, what people don’t get is that Christmas NOT ABOUT THE PRESENTS. It’s about Family, Company, Being Together with anyone (Family, Relatives or even Friends) as long as you’re with someone. And, no; you don’t have a buy a credit-busting amount of presents for them; just enjoy their company. But, finally Christmas is about Jesus’ Birth and he became our savior. Yet, if you don’t celebrate Christmas, Hanukah, or Kwanza then just enjoy your family’s or anyone’s company. All in all though enjoy families and they’ll enjoy yours.

Thanks for reading The Christianville Spirit. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, and Happy Kwanza.

The Christianville Spirit: You, The Word To Avoid

The Christianville Spirit
The Spirit that touches lives
December 10, 2008-TCS # 127
You know when people have verbal fights, what’s the word that starts it? Using a sentence that begins with you; You, as in, “You don’t do this!”, “You don’t do that!”, “You ALWAYS do this!” but, when you say something like that the person your fighting with whether it’s your spouse, brother, mother, or whatever, they feel like they’re being attacked and they need to defend themselves. So, here’s how to talk to them without saying YOU. The major rule to get the message across without saying YOU would be to say I. Like let’s just say that you and your spouse are fighting about the fact that your supposed to do the dishes which she asked you to and your sitting in the recliner watching the football game (now keep in mind, something small things like doing the dishes shows your love for that person) and, she says “You never do the dishes! And I’m sick of doing them!” Well, a different way she could have said this would start it out with “I love it when you do the dishes for me. So, could you please do them for me tonight”? And, with her saying something like that, that would make you want to do more things for her. Now, women shouldn’t be the only ones not saying YOU, the men should also not say YOU. All in all though, without saying you at the beginning of a fight, it will be a smoother one.

Thanks for reading The Christianville Spirit. Small Things like taking out the trash and doing the dishes shows your spouse that you love them.